6 A-Frame House Kits You Can Buy for Under $60,000

Every now and then, you probably start daydreaming about an affordable escape in nature. Perhaps it’s someplace small and quiet to commune with the trees and get away from demands of your days spent indoors. 

As it turns out, you don’t need to purchase a rustic log cabin or a faraway fixer-upper to achieve this new lifestyle. An A-frame house kit might just be your perfect solution. These cozy prefabricated structures are well-equipped, aesthetically pleasing, and can be built virtually anywhere, so they’re ideal for people looking to get off the grid — whether for a quick vacation or for good. 

Another appealing aspect of prefab A-frame homes is that they’re typically energy efficient, featuring smart design elements that make the most of natural light, heat, and cold to keep its inhabitants comfortable while minimizing energy consumption.

Even better? They’re not superexpensive. We found eight A-frame house kits for sale for under $60,000. Some are from Europe and Canada, meaning they may cost more to deliver to the U.S., so peruse the options below to find your perfect match.

(And if you’re not quite sold on A-frames just yet, check out these tiny home and yurt kits — or even just these free (or very affordable) tiny house plans.)

While putting an A-frame cabin kit together might be simple, especially if you buy kits that don’t require heavy machinery, there’s more than meets the eye to buying one. The good news is that oftentimes the kits will come predrilled, flat-packed and ready to assemble — but you need to know exactly what you’re buying to ensure it’s an easy build. 

If it’s a more complicated build, you may need contractors to help build out your home, and if you haven’t properly zoned the land you are building your kit on, you may run into some trouble.

You’re going to need to know all about the building permits, zoning requirements, and inspections that your local or county government may enforce.

“While there are many universal building requirements for homes, every city or county has varying construction or zoning regulations that may affect your project,” an informational article at MightySmallHomes says. For example, the article notes, if you live in an area with heavy snow, you may need to meet certain roofing standards, likewise if you live in areas with hurricanes. You’ll also need the basic permits required for most construction — if you want to have an HVAC system, if you plan on building plumbing, and more.

You’ll need to do your own research to ensure you’re building your house kit up to code.

Cost: ~$25,000-$50,000
Size: 196 square feet

The DIY A-frames from Den, an American company, come in multiple colors and sizes. They have beautiful floor-to-ceiling windows so you can be one with nature. You can set yours up to be either on-grid or off-the-grid, but keep in mind that your costs for this may vary — you buy the home kit plan from Den for just under $1,000, and you can get an estimate on their site for how much they believe it will cost to build your A-frame kit, including if you need a septic, foundation, framing, exterior, interior finishes, landscaping, planning, and if you need to buy the plot of land you want to put your A-frame cabin kit on as well. They provide estimates on your site if you know where you want to build.

Cost: Starting at $26,650
Size: 428 square feet

Ideal for summer vacations and short-term stays, the Avrame Duo 75 is small yet comfortable. Created by an Estonian company, the one-story structure — made of strength-graded timber — can be assembled in three to six days. Optional extras include dormers, skylights, stairs, a terrace, and more. You should note that when you’re looking at the Avrame house kit products, you’ll need to purchase three parts to build the full kit — the structural kit, which must be bought from Avrame, costs $26,650, but the other two kits (the exterior kit at $15,175 and the interior kit at $10,150) can be sourced locally, which may save you some money.

Cost: Starting at $33,000
Size: 120 square feet 

The Bivvi Base Camp is a great option if you’re looking to bring your A-frame anywhere in nature, and for folks who want a turn key A-frame right off the bat. The 110-square-foot retreat is situated on wheels and can be towed on highways and roadways. The single-room cabin includes a toilet and kitchenette, and has plenty of custom options to add as well.

Cost: Starting at $45,725
Size: 835 square feet

Avrame’s Trio 75 is suitable for families with up to five people, according to the company. The two-story building has three bedrooms and one bathroom. It also has ample windows and doors that let in natural light. Just like the Avrame Duo 75, you should know that this house kit is also made up of three parts. While you have to buy the structural kit (at $45,725) from Avrame, the two other kits — the exterior kit and interior kit at about $21,000 each — can be sourced locally, which may save you some money.

Cost: $42,495
Size: 170 square feet 

Off Grid Dwellings suggests using this quaint prefab cabin as an in-law suite, guest room, or a rental unit. This is the smallest cabin the company offers, and it comes complete with basic insulation, electrical wiring, and durable windows.

Cost: $51,230
Size: 107 square feet

The Backcountry Hut Company, based in British Columbia, was created in 2015 by avid outdoor enthusiasts with an appreciation for simplicity. The company offers three modular cabins. System 00, the newest and least expensive, is a one-room A-frame that can be assembled in less than a week by a handful of people.